Scharnegoutum (Frisian: Skearnegoutum) is a village in Wymbritseradiel
municipality, Fryslân province. Population (1958) 1006; (1974) 996.
It is not affected by the Frisian Lakes-affliction: adult people (mainly
Germans and Amsterdammers) behaving very silly when approaching and passing
a bridge, such as stealing the little wooden clog, dangling off a little
angling-rod, presented by the bridge-keeper, and shouting un-understandable
commands nobody listens to anyway, resulting in involuntary half-masting, to the delight of the bridge-keeper and the bridge-keeper's wife, for
some extra repairs-income, and of course to the sombre comments of sailors-on-land
on a terrace.
Scharnegoutum is NNE of Sneek, a village built on a "terp" (mound).
Objects dated from the 4th and 7th century AD have been found in the terp.
When the Middelzee was made dry (c. 1300 AD) Scharnegoutum was suddenly
placed south of it. In the good old times of the feud between Schieringers
and Vetkopers the Scharnegoutumers participated enthusiastically until
they found out that their village suffered a bit from ransacking by the
inhabitants of Sneek city.
Nickname: "Sûkerfretters" (sugar-eaters) - it is told
that a Scharnegoutumer lady liked to visit her neighbours to get a cup
of coffee. As soon as the hostess went to the kitchen our dear lady put
several spoonfuls of sugar in her mouth...
Scharnegoutum coat of arms: in blue a lengthened and narrowed silver wavy bar
over which a golden five-pointed star; in chief charged gold charged with
an erased red-beaked and -tongued black double eagle's head.
Flag: three wavy horizontal stripes of blue and yellow, proportioned
4:1:1; in the hoist a yellow five-pointed star of 1/2 flag height.
In the Middle Ages this village belonged. together with the villages
Looyenga, Gooyenga, Gauw, and Offingawier, to the "Snitser Fiifgea"
(Sneker fiveshire), the former North Wymbritseradiel. It was a union
to assist each other in need, when they had all, together with Sneek, the
side of the Schieringers. For this the golden five-pointed star was chosen
in blue, the colors of the arms of the old "grietenij" (municipality)
of Wymbritseradiel. The star is over a silver wavy crossbar, symbolizing
the small river "Zette" (which is part of the "Elf-Steden-route"),
which in early times, together with the river Boorn, flowed into the old
Middelzee. The chief with the double imperial eagle head can be found in
the memorial stone of 1555 in the spire of the St. Martin's church, for
emperor Charles V (with golden fleece-chain).
In the flag the wavy bar has been colored yellow, for a quieter composition,
and also to point at the municipal flag of Wymbritseradiel.
Design: Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk, in consultation with the society
for Village Interests "Skearnegoutum".
Source: Genealogysk Jierboekje 1989.
Encyclopedie van Friesland, 1958.
Jarig Bakker, 22 Sep 2003
![[Scharnegoutum villageflag]](../images/n/nl-fr_sg.gif)
image
by Jarig Bakker, 22 Sep 2003
See also:
![[Scharnegoutum Coat of Arms]](../images/n/nl-fr)sg.jpg)
from Ralf Hartemink's site.
